Why You WON’T Want To Be at EPCOT on November 3rd

It can be an extreme challenge to “wing it” when it comes to a Disney World vacation.

Spaceship Earth

With things like Lightning Lanes and virtual queues, scheduled ride refurbishments, dining reservations, and Disney Park Passes, it’s hard to just “go with the flow” during a Disney World vacation or even plan one super last minute. There’s just so much information to know before you travel! And if you’re visiting EPCOT soon, there’s an update you need to know about.

EPCOT will be opening one hour later on Sunday, November 3rd. The park typically opens at 9AM, but on that day, it won’t open until 10AM for regular guests. EPCOT is still set to close at its usual time of 9PM that day.

‘Walt the Dreamer’ Statue in World Celebration

If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, Early Theme Park Entry on November 3rd will start at 9:30AM. You must have a confirmed resort reservation to take advantage of this perk and get the extra park time in the morning.

Early Entry Sign

So why is the park opening late? Disney hasn’t shared any details, but it could be related to the runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon that takes place that morning. The runDisney races often have routes through the theme parks, and while they start early in the morning, the longer races can take a while to get through.

©runDisney

If you’re heading to the park that weekend, just know that crowds may be heavier because of the runDisney festivities. This race weekend in particular makes EPCOT a popular park to visit, and crowds can get extra heavy during lunch and dinnertime as people hit the International Food & Wine Festival booths.

World Showcase crowds during a runDisney race

We’ll be in the parks that weekend, and we’ll make sure to keep you in the loop with any important crowd updates. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest.

Click Here to Learn More About the Race Weekend!

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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

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Are you heading to EPCOT in November? Tell us in the comments!